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Author: Meredith Smith, MScPT

Meredith Smith, MScPT is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream within the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Toronto. She also is the Physiotherapy Academic Clinical Educator at Toronto Rehabilitation/University Health Network and continues to practice clinically at Balance Physiotherapy. She is a graduate of the Masters of Physical Therapy program at the University of Toronto and holds a Bachelors in Physiology from Michigan State University. Clinically, she has worked with clients with a variety of conditions with a focus on clients living with neurological conditions. Meredith has also been involved in research related to racism and oppression. She feels it is important to have humanities incorporated within the curriculum for health professionals to provide a foundation in how society and culture including racism impact opportunities, education, health and access to healthcare.

Exploring How Racism Structures Canadian Physical Therapy Programs: Counter-Stories From Racialized Students

The authors of this study conducted in-depth interviews with racialized students or recent graduates of Master’s-level physical therapy programs in Canada. The students described their experiences of white culture, and how well-meaning fellow students simply weren’t aware of the institutionalized racism around them. In compelling quotes, the students detail their feelings of frustration and resignation based on repeated exposure to race-related stereotypes.